Barrel transporting device



Oct. 21, 1952 H. s. HOUSER 2,614,711

BARREL TRANSPORTING DEVICE I Filed Nov. 50, .1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 1 flaro/a 5 flozuez BY wagm jzfarizey' 0 21, 1952 H. s. HOUSER 2,614,711

BARREL TRANSPORTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, 1949 .3 sheets sheet 2 '7 III Z5 INVENTOR. flar'ol'a 6. House? mzra. QM

Jn ffarzzey H. S. HOUSER BARREL TRANSPORTING DEVICE Oct. 21,- 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 30, 1949 INVENTOR. Fl 5' 5 f/aro (d5 Hansel Patented Oct. 21, 1952 Harold S. Houser, Chicago, Ill.,

assignor to Standard Oil Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Indiana Application November 30, 1949, Serial No. 130,133

. 1 V, This invention relates to an industrial truck of the elevating type, and more particularly re lates' to trucks adapted for handling a plurality of barrels,-rol1s of paper, or the like.

To handle groups of upended barrels or the like it has heretofore been necessary to employ pallets or elevated platforms on which the barrels were placed before lifting the group with a fork truck. Such a system is cumbersome and is generally unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and means for handling groups of barrels without employing the pallets. A further object of the invention is to provide an elevating truck'in which the elevating member is of a modified form adapted to engage and lift loads comprising upended cylinders such as barrels or rolls of paper in groups or clusters. Another object of the invention is to provide an elevating or lift truck having an improved load engaging means adapted to engage the load at its lower central surface and at its upper peripheral surface.

'In general the objects and advantages of my invention are attained by providing a lift truck with an elevating member to which a depending mast is fixed. The lower end of the mast is adapted to be extended laterally and engage the bottom of one or more barrels. An upper barrel restraining frame is movably carried by the elevating member and the depending mast passes slidably through the frame member. Adjustable barrel restraining means are movably carried by the frame and these restraining means are adapted to engage the outer periphery of the top of the load at a point remote from the depending mast which supports the bottom of the load.

These and other features of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a truck assembly embodying my invention with the load in an elevated position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the truck and the upper load engaging means;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the lines 3+3 of Figure 1 illustrating the bottom loadengaging elements;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the details of the upper load-engaging means;

Figure 5 is a section along the 1ine"55 in Figure i;

-Figure 6-is a fragmentary section along the 9 Claims- (Gl. 214-75) in Figure 9.

line 6-6 of Figure 7 of the load engaging means illustrating its retracted and expanded position;

Figure '7 is a section taken along the line 1'l in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an exploded view showing the individual elements of the lower load engaging mechanism illustrated in Figures 3, 6, and 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation showing the action of the load handling elements preliminary to lifting the load; and

Figure 10 is a top view along the line I ll-l0 The present invention is particularly adapted for lifting cylindrical containers in groups of 3 or i and for transporting them without the necessity of employing pallets. By the term cylindrical container I mean to include in addition 'to drums, barrels and the like, rolls of paper and other generally cylindrical units. As will be understood from the following description, my invention is particularly adapted for the handling of sheet metal drums.

In brief, my invention comprises a hydraulic lift truck including a truck chassis Ill operated on wheels II and adapted to be controlled by an operator through control levers l2. At one end of the truck is a vertical guide frame 13 supporting a movable elevating frame l4 which carries the adjustable load engaging mechanism described in considerable detail below.

The elevating frame I 4 projects from and is slidably mounted on the guide frame [3 and. can be moved vertically thereon by the usual hydraulic elevating mechanism provided on such truck frames and not shown in detail. The adjustable member 15 includes the movable jaws It to grip the outer periphery of a cluster of barrels l1 and a lower load engaging means in-' cluding extendable lugs I8 carried by the depending mast l9. The restraining jaws H; which movably extend through the frame l5 are operated by hydraulic cylinders 21. The mast l9 passes through collar 20 in the restraining frame: [5 and enters the space Ila between groups of Then the frame I5 and periphery barrels l'l. engaging means 16 are hydraulically lowered toward the cluster of barrels H. are extended laterally under the barrels and then the lift member [5 is lowered further onto the top of the barrels and the jaws I6 brought into peripheral contact with the load. The barrel is thereby suspended at three points, i. e. the lug It at the bottom and the load engaging jaws 16 at the top. The entire load thus secured can then be raised upon the elevating frame 14.

The lugs .18 v

' 3 Alternatively, to avoid lateral movement of the load upon extension of the lugs I8, I may first apply some restraining action to the top of the load by operation of the restraining jaws I6.

In the operation of handling barrels with the apparatus described, 3 or 4 barrels of one or more sizes or shapes can be handled whether they be full barrels "and. half barrels'and :cylin'drical tor bulged. -In-the illustrated embodiment 4 barrels IT to be transported are arranged in clover-leaf pattern as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and disposed on the plane surface, preferably .withthe sides of the barrels in contact as shown in'Figure 3. However, the peripheralrestraining jaws I6 can be used to shift the :barrelsjdnwardlymo as to assume the described arrangement. If the number of barrels is lessthan .4 their locations should be those which would result if'there were 4 barrels arranged in the described -pattern. In other words, the upper periphery engaging jaw -I 6 and the bottom support -means I 8;,inclependently1assume the {load engaging positionofFigures .1,r2, and 3.;for 3each barrel whether there be 1, 2, 3, or 4 barrels in the group.

The truck 10 .-;with .the elevating frame [IA and restraining member -'I5 raised t.o-.a level .above theqtgp of the barrels I'I ismovedzinto position over -.the clustenef barrelsrsozthat the hollowdepending most-1.01 rmast All-"carried by the {elevating frame I4 iscentered ahove-thegopening I'Ia defined :by'the group ofubarrels. The operator then lowers the barrel restraining frame I;5;a's.a unitawith rthe hoisting mechanism pf the elevatingrframe I4 until=the.lower ,end of the reenter post or;mast t9 comes to rest on the surface supportingthe barrels. EIhus the-mastd a isslowered to the floorwith'the lower lugsWIBina retracted position jassshownjmFigure 7. :At this-point the frame 15 is :spaced :from the "top .of the :barrels but with jaws -I6 extended beyond the -;periphery of :th-e-load-as shown in Figure :9.

The lower carrying lugs I8-are extendedlaterally under the load-by the perationof hydraulic Cylinder; 22 which rotates the center "shaft .23 within the;tubular-:mast IQ. The-barrels :I I are confined by the frame I 5 -.and;lateral-movement is restrained by the posts-,orjaws It with the result that-stile QklllfGeBdQQdglllES I8 :slide under the chines or lower rim :of the barrels I:I ;until the walls of the.barrelseseatgagainst. the vertical faces 2.4 oflugs J8. elf:desired:aretractablebumper:28 as:;slrown iin 1515111285 9 and 210 can :bemrovided t tip-the [barrel -:I'I;outwardly tOWHJdjflWS I6 and thereby lift the bottom slightly :so+that the lug [Bean-get a-rpurchase-on thebarrel. The-bumper 2 8:rrraiLifor example,'jcomprisejaninfiatable member mounted on spider 28 which is fixed .-.to the post :,I9. )Bydefiating bumperiB thebarrel comes torestpon the lug 4.8. In any event, the jawskfi are :retractedaand the restraining frame !.5 :isthen lowered further by the hydraulic I-cyIinder 25 which :acts :thereon through :members 26 (with elevating frame 14 in locked position) untilthe restraining frame l comes to rest on' the top-of the barrels H.

"The barrel "engaging assemblyywhich includes the frame I5, the upper periphery restraining jaws or posts I6, "the -'center 'mast I9 and the knife-*edged lifting lugs I8, together :with their hydraulic operating "means, is lifted on the .ele-

vatin frame I4 as a unitrtherebyraising theentire group of barrels. The wei ht .of-thebarre'ls iscarried pnflugs -I8.and through the center post otunast 19 to the cantilever -arm or \elevating '4 frame I4 which is in turn movably carried by the guide frame I3 on truck chassis II).

With the barrels so held securely the truck is driven to the new location for the barrels and unloaded on a plane surface by reversal of the operations outlined above. In other words; the lifting frame I5 is lowered on the hoisting mechanism =I4 until the centerimast I9 .andtthe bottom'of the barrels Il are resting uponthe floor.

The restraining jaws I6 are moved laterally outa-ward and simultaneously the center shaft 23 within the .mast I 9 is rotated so as to retract the knife-edged lugs I8. The frame I5 can be raised :relativeito .the elevating frame I4 through the .rauxiliary supports 32B and the hydraulic lift 25 fixed to the-elevating frame I4 which can then be raisedusoas to withdrawn the center mast I8 before the truck assembly is driven to a new location.

Referring more specifically to Figures 4 and 5, the power .of the hydraulic 'cylinders.-2 Iiisindependently applied through rod sand the-Jinkage--32 to the'rack 33, internally-threadedpinions 34 and threaded shafts "35'1whereby =thBg jaW-Sv or posts VI B are movedv laterally of :thecentenpostpr mast I-9. .Thetravelingpinions i34rare' moved; over the threaded ;portion.of the shafts 535 by means of thepivoted linkage ':32 traveling in;-a .direction generally-transverse to Ythevaxis of theythreaded shaft 35. ,A;slot.36;is providedfin-linkage132,50. as to g permit continual adjustment =aboutithe pin3l fixed to theoperatingrbarzonrack33'. :Sincerthe operatinggbar 3.3 ;is :anchored :toithe framezmem b.er; I5-by elements 38 therotation of the:internally threaded pinions -34:resu1t 12in zthe:z.:rotation of the shafts -35 and? they are moved inagdireetion' transverse to the :operating bar? or zraokqfiii. The gjaws or posts I6 aextend through ;slots :39 in frame I 5 and are 'held .downrbyuplate-M WhiC'hIiS fixed'to the-frame I5.

'In Figures 6, 7, and t8 1the-details of'the-pperating mechanismzwithin thehousing14*! at thelower end of the mast I9 are shown. figures 16 :and 7 show the assembled :unit and..Figure-:8 is:an1ax- V ploded view of'the-elements. .A 'centerashaft 23'ris provided with ashaft pinion :14 I :at its;lower-most end forengagement with the racks .42 carriedrby the body "43 iQf eachzof the knife-edged :lugs :18. The transverse pairs :of lugs I18 are in sliding acngagementrand the .pinion gearJII engages ther'respective racks '42. Accordingly, when'the'penter shaft 23 is'turned'by meansnfthe hydraulic piston 22, rack Z45, :andthe supper :TdliVe pinion gear fifi'jfixed to the upperzendn'f thezmasti2'3zasshown in Figures 1, 2, .and 4,i-the lugs 18 are :retra'cted within the housing 4Ias 'shownxin Figures Bend 7. The roller guide 48 keeps the rack in contact with the drive pinioni lfin 'Re'ferring further to "Figure 16, it will ibeznoted 'thatrin the .extended position 18a of 'theilug 1.8;.the .knifeeedge'd faces en1g:i,1ges the chine 49 :of the bottom 10f :the linearre The other lugs 1B are also .providedzwithtcnirfispending v:racks "42 for engagement with 1 another portion of the pinion gear M on the lower enli of the shaft :23. Accordingly, -uponzrutati0n :of;the center shaft :23 .as :describedrabove, 'hoth pairs-11f lugs I8 are retracted orextendeddepending:upon the direction of motion .of theraok:4l5zactuatedfzby the hydraulic piston 22.

With further reference t Figures :6, 'lnand '8, the housing 41 is fi xed to theglowerend .of hollow mast I9 through which the operating 2shaft3'2'3 passes. The pinion 4| engages the four rackswfl andscontrolsthe positionofthe lugs I8; The-side bars 50 and 50a are provided with guide channels and Blu within which thelugs l8 are slid- My invention has been described with refer ence to thehandling of cylindrical objects and in conjunction with a lift truck. ,It is contemplated, however, thatloads comprising crates, packages, or the like as well as barrels or drums can be liftedand transported in accordance with my invention. Likewise, the load engaging means has been described in combination with .a vehicle and it iscontemplated that this mechanism can be associated with a mono-rail, a crane, or other transporting apparatus. Accordingly, it should be understood that the embodiments of the invention described in more or less detail above and shown in the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and that many modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein described or as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for handling up-ended barrels, the combination of a vehicle, a vertical elevator guide means rigidly carried by said vehicle, an elevating member movably mounted on and projecting from said vertical elevator guide means, an adjustable frame supported by said elevating member and arranged to be moved relative thereto, a plurality of laterally movable barrelengaging means depending from said frame for engaging the upper periphery of a barrel arranged therebelow, a centrally disposed mast depending from said elevating member, laterally extendable and retractable lugs on the lower end of said mast adapted to engage the bottom of such barrel, and power means for raising and lowering said frame, said power means being connected to said elevating member and adapted to be raised therewith alongsaid elevator guide means.

2. In a lift truck including a vehicle, frame, a vertical guide means fixed to the front end of said vehicle frame, and an elevating membermounted to move vertically on said guide, the improvement which comprises an adjustable frame movably mounted on said elevating member and arranged to be positioned overa cluster of up-ended barrels, a plurality of laterally movable jaws carried by said frame and adapted to engage the periphery of the clustered barrels, a mast disposed centrally of said member and slidably through said frame, a plurality of laterally extendable and retractable lug means at the lower end of said mast adapted to engage the bottoms of said barrels, and hydraulically operated means for controlling the positions of said jaws and of said barrel engaging lugs.

3. A lift truck adapted to handle a plurality of up-ended cylindrical objects comprising in combination a vehicle, a vertical elevator guide on said vehicle, an elevating member projecting from said guide and arranged to move vertically thereon, an upper barrel-engaging frame means including retractable restraining jaw means movably mounted on said frame for engaging the upper periphery of said objects, means for raising and lowering said frame relative to said elevating member, a hollow mast depending from said :6 elevating member and slidable through .said frame, retractable lug meanscarriedby the lower end of said mast, a drive shaft extending within said mast and adapted to operatesaid lug means, a power means for drivingsaid shaft, a second power means for operating said-restraining jaw means, and a third power means for raising and lowering said frame means relative to said elevating means. s v

4. A load handling apparatus comprising an elevating member, a centrally depending hollow mast fixed to said elevating member, a plurality of laterally retractable load-supporting means carried by the lower end of said mast and adapted to engage the lower edge of a load, a drive shaft extending within saidcentral mast, rack means on said load supporting means, a pinion gear on the lower end of said shaft and operatively engagingsaid rack means, power means engaging the upper end of said shaft for reciprocating said shaft, an adjustable frame means below said elevating member, a pair of laterally extending threaded shafts on said frame means, movable restraining jaw means depending from one end of said threaded shaft through said frame, an internally threaded pinion gear means about each said shaft, a rack means for operating said internally threaded pinion means, mechanical linkage operatively connected to said rack means for rotating said threaded pinions about said threaded shaft, and an hydraulic power means for operating said linkage whereby the said jaw means can be placed in restraining contact with the upper end of the load.

5. A lift truck including in combination a vehicle, a vertical elevator guide means thereon, an elevating member mounted on and projecting from said vertical elevator guide means, movable frame means carried by said elevating member, a depending mast supported by said elevating member, load-engaging means radially extendable and retractable from said mast at the lower end thereof, radially retractable clamping means extending downwardly from the lower side of said frame, and power means for controlling the position of said load-engaging means for raising andlowering said movable frame means relative to said load-engaging means, and for drawing said clamping means radially inward toward said mast.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including a resilient annular bumper arranged about said mast below said movable frame means whereby the load is tilted outwardly to raise the edge of the load adjacent the load-engaging means.

'7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bumper is retractible and comprises an inflatable annular member arranged about the said mast below said movable frame means.

8. A load-handling apparatus comprising an elevating member, a centrally depending hollow mast having its upper end fixed to said elevating member, a plurality of laterally retractable loadsupporting means carried by the lower end of said mast and adapted to engage the lower surface of a load, a drive shaft extending within said central mast, a rack and pinion gear means coupling the lower end of said shaft and said load-engaging means, power means engaging the upper end ofsaid shaft above the upper end of said mast for reciprocating said shaft, an adjustable frame means below said elevating member and slidably guided about said mast, a plurality of movable restraining jaw means supported within said adjustable framemeans, and 

